Stewardship and Israel

Throughout my life, God has blessed me over and over again. He has proved countless times that His grace is sufficient, helping me out of tight spots, providing for my needs, and giving me gifts that I could never earn or deserve on my own. He has demonstrated a personal touch on my life, communicating His love in a manner that only He can.

Throughout my life, I have turned away from His direction, insisting that my own ideas and my own ways should work. It’s as if God puts me in the car to take me somewhere, then I hop over to the driver’s seat and shout, “I know the way.” And every time I end up in a classic “is God my pilot or parachute?” position.

So far, my adult life would be best summarized by Proverbs 14:12. “There is a way which seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.” (NASB)

He blesses me, I turn away and fall on my face. He helps me get back up on my feet, and the process starts over again. Each time, the situation escalates. Higher risks, bigger consequences. Seedtime and harvest becomes a spiritual principal that I see at work each and every day. As it escalates, I see it affecting the people around me like a cancer.

Two days ago, a good friend likened me to Israel. Over and over, they saw God perform miraculous signs and wonders, promoting them as His chosen people. And each and every time, they took to idolatry and distractions and sin. And they reaped the consequences, returned with tail tucked between their legs, and begged for forgiveness. And He was faithful to forgive.

It took the Babylonian Captivity to wake Israel up. They lost everything God had given them, including their own freedom. Again, God proved faithful, kept a remnant, returned them to freedom, and helped them rebuild from scratch. Entire tribes were lost, countless people died, and those that remained suffered. All because they wouldn’t properly steward His calling. They thought they had the answers, but they hadn’t even fully grasped the questions.